It has lots of interesting codes--including one that's supposed to let you access your phone's GPS capabilities.

But I do actually have the model phone they're talking about, and I got to the secret GPS menu, but couldn't get any results. But maybe with a slightly different model, or a different carrier (I'm on Verizon) or plan, or in different regions, it might actually work.

Hurley: (holding up a Jesus statue) I don't know. I thought there might be a prowler or something.
Mrs. Reyes: (grabbing the statue) Jesus Christ is not a weapon! - LOST "There's No Place Like Home Pt. 1

When you use your zip code to do a search it uses the post office as ground zero. So those caches are actually 1/2-5 miles from your local post office.

Theres a guy here who uses his cell phones gps to find caches. I don't know how he's doing it. I was just impressed when I met him and realised he'd been using a cell phone gps since he started about 6 months ago.

That's the thing, our cellphones have the capability built in! Or at least, recent models do.

We had two DNF's on Sunday. We seem to run into problems if we just jot down the coordinates on a pad of paper instead of printing out the details, logs, etc. I feel like I should be able to do it without spoilers now, but it's still not simple to me. There's one near my house that I've been to 3 times and haven't found it - but people keep posting that it was an easy find.

Do you know what the standard "easy" cache is in your area? Down here it's lampskirt micros. If all the logs are saying "Easy thanks." Or "TFTC" then I know its probably a lampskirt micro. But the first time I ever found one in a lampskirt I thought the person who hid it must be a genius.
Sometimes the hardest to find are the ones hidden right in front of you.

Looks like a lot of people are having trouble with the coords on that one. Expand your search and use the "where would I hide it" method.
I have a hard time putting the GPS away and actually looking at the area. If my GPS is saying 10 ft I expect it to be in 10ft.